A look back at Burnett's career

I meant to post this yesterday, but better late than never. Anthony McCarron takes a (scary) look back at A.J. Burnett's career to date.

July 1, 1997: Returns from a two-week stint on the minor-league disabled list because of a broken left foot.

May 16, 1998: Makes his minor-league season debut after missing the first six weeks after surgery to repair a broken right hand.

March 14, 2000: Suffers a torn thumb ligament during fielding practice in spring training and has surgery a week later. It keeps him out of the majors until July 20.

Feb. 22, 2001: Marlins' doctors find a stress fracture in his right foot, so he starts the season on the disabled list and makes his season debut May 1.

Aug. 19, 2002: Goes on the DL with a bone bruise. Returns nearly a month later.

March 21, 2003: Placed on the DL with an elbow problem which leads to Tommy John surgery.

April 29, 2003: After opening the season on the disabled list because of elbow problems, undergoes Tommy John surgery, a 90-minute procedure performed by Dr. James Andrews.

April 15, 2006: Is activated from the disabled list, where he starts the season because of scar tissue breakup from his previous elbow surgery. Makes two starts before returning to the DL April 22.

June 13, 2007: Goes on the disabled list with a shoulder strain and makes one start when he comes off before going right back on. But after he returns Aug. 12, he goes 5-2 in 10 starts.

Those are only the injuries. Of course, there are 87 wins in 10 years in there somewhere.

I'm scared folks. I understand there's great upside here, but there's also a lot of risk. I can't fathom giving five years to a man with this kind of history. I just can't.